Dubai Leads Global Cities in Attracting Creative Industry Investments in 2024
Dubai has once again claimed the top spot globally for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in cultural and creative industries (CCI), according to the Financial Times' fDi Markets report.
This marks the third consecutive year the emirate has outpaced 233 cities, including London and Singapore, reinforcing its status as a global hub for creativity and innovation.
In 2024, Dubai attracted 971 CCI-related Greenfield FDI projects—an 8% increase from the previous year—resulting in capital inflows of AED18.86 billion and creating over 23,500 new jobs. The city's performance was driven by growth in diverse sub-sectors, including digital media, software design, AI, advertising, and education.
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, attributed this continued success to the forward-looking vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She highlighted Dubai's evolving creative ecosystem as a catalyst for long-term economic and cultural development.
Key policy reforms also played a critical role. Measures such as Executive Council Resolution No. (11) of 2025—allowing free zone businesses to expand operations citywide—and initiatives like the Zero Government Bureaucracy programme have streamlined regulations and boosted investor confidence.
According to the Dubai FDI Monitor, the United States led in capital inflows, while India topped both project count and job creation. Greenfield investments dominated the sector, accounting for over 76% of all FDI activity in CCI.
Officials emphasized that Dubai's regulatory clarity, innovation-focused strategies like the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and strong IP protections continue to attract global talent and investment. With ambitions to make the creative sector contribute 5% to GDP by 2026, Dubai is well on its way to becoming one of the world's top three urban economies.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
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